The Seventh Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

GOVERNMENT MESSAGE The Queensland Government has supported the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) since its inception 20 years ago. In this time, the APT has grown to be a focal point for local, national and international audiences for contemporary art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific, for the exchange of ideas and for regional neighbours to make important connections. It is a project that has defined Queensland’s place in the global cultural landscape. The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) plays a vital role in the state’s cultural tourism market, attracting national and international visitors with its exclusive and innovative exhibitions — APT has long been the flagship exhibition for this world-renowned programming. Since the first Triennial in 1993, more than 1.8 million people have visited these exhibitions, with the most recent APT averaging a remarkable 4400 people a day. Visitors to ‘The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ will experience recent work and ambitious site-specific installations by 75 artists and artist groups from countries including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey and Iran. The Queensland Government is committed to providing access to art for all Queenslanders, and we commend the Gallery for its widely acknowledged audience engagement initiatives that are a key part of APT; this includes Kids’ APT, which gives families and young audiences access to the ideas and work of contemporary artists. The Gallery attracts exceptional visitation from teenage and young adult audiences, many of whom first experienced contemporary art through the Kids’ APT. The APT series offers a distinctive educational experience with its online resources, regional touring component, and innovative film and public programming. It is truly a successful model for engaging diverse audiences. We acknowledge Principal Partner, Events Queensland, and thank Presenting Sponsor, Santos, which is supporting the APT for the second time through its five-year commitment to the Gallery’s annual summer exhibition program; and Major Sponsor, Kramer Ausenco, which is supporting the major artist project from Papua New Guinea. We also thank the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation for its generous support of Kids’ APT7, including the Gallery’s children’s book and regional On Tour program. We acknowledge the Australian Government, whose support, through the Australia Council for the Arts and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, demonstrates the national significance of this project. We also acknowledge the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the many bilateral cultural agencies that have supported this and previous APT exhibitions. As we reflect on the twentieth anniversary of APT, we also note the unprecedented transformations that have occurred in Australia, Asia and the Pacific over this time. In this new century, when global attention is shifting to our region, Queensland is in a leading position to take advantage of the cultural, social and economic foundations established over many years. We congratulate the Gallery on this landmark project, and the tremendous benefits it offers for visitor engagement, Collection development, education, trade, tourism and cultural exchange. THE HONOURABLE CAMPBELL NEWMAN, mp , PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND THE HONOURABLE ROS BATES, mp , MINISTER FOR SCIENCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND THE ARTS 18